Mitchell Schuster

Chair, Commercial Litigation
Partner
P: (212) 655-3549
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Practice Area: Commercial Litigation Crisis Management Taxation & Estates

Mitchell Schuster is the firm’s Administrative Partner and the Chair of the Litigation Department. He offers clients a unique combination of litigation experience with a keen perception of the sports and entertainment industry. As an effective and seasoned litigator with substantial jury trial experience, he counsels clients on complex civil matters in both state and federal courts, and his practice focuses on general business and commercial matters, representing corporations, insurance carriers and individuals on business-torts, employment issues, insurance disputes, and intellectual property litigation.

Mr. Schuster’s practice extends to the sports and entertainment industry, comprised of professional athletes of the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, recording artists and talent in film and television. He provides counsel on crisis management, estate and insurance planning, formation and administering of charitable entities, endorsement and appearance agreements, investment opportunities, new business ventures and fraud recovery.

With over 30 years of experience, Mr. Schuster has earned a reputation as a market-leading crisis specialist, working extensively with high net-worth individuals to manage severely adverse situations, both criminal and non-criminal such as; blackmail attempts, criminal investigations, family law related issues, asset recovery, nightclub assaults and photo, video and texting scandals. His strategic and focused advice in conjunction with his ability to identify, assess, manage and respond quickly to these risks and critical events has helped preserve his clients’ reputations and avoid the negative impact on their personal and professional brands.

 

Education

Hofstra University School of Law. J.D. (Editor/Property Law Journal)

State University of New York at Albany. B.S.

Admissions

State of New York

Southern District of New York

Eastern District of New York

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Representative Matters

Crisis Management for more than 50 NFL, NBA, MLB and other professional athletes, entertainers and high net-worth individuals in varied personal/professional situations, including:

  • representation in criminal matters
  • defending against extortion and blackmail schemes
  • establishing/determining paternity and negotiating child support agreements when paternity is  confirmed
  • defending against claims of personal injury allegedly incurred in altercations or confrontations of one sort or another conducting Crisis Management seminars for various professional sports teams

General representation of professional athletes and entertainers in a wide variety of matters, including:

  • commercial litigation
  • estate and tax planning
  • registration of trademarks and copyrights
  • drafting and negotiating of employment agreements, license agreements, endorsement   agreements and franchise agreements
  • asset recovery
  • corporate formation
  • philanthropic ventures

Mitch Schuster represented NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin, III.  vs. sports agent Ben Dogra in federal court in Missouri, who was seeking to enforce an oral marketing agreement between CAA Sports and Mr. Griffin, which was terminable at will, and which was terminated by Mr. Griffin in 2014.  Mr. Dogra alleged, as the purported assignee of CAA Sports’ rights under the agreement, that he was entitled to approximately $700,000 in commissions on endorsement fees Mr. Griffin received from 2014 through 2016.  Upon MSF’s motion, the Court determined that California’s two-year statute of limitations applied to the claims, and not Missouri’s five-year statute of limitations, as Mr. Dogra contended.  MSF successfully demonstrated the meritless nature of Mr. Dogra’s contention that Mr. Griffin was equitably estopped from asserting a statute of limitations defense.  The Court ruled that Mr. Dogra’s claims were time-barred and granted Mr. Griffin summary judgment.

Honors

Forbes America’s Top 200 Lawyers, March 2024

Variety’s Legal Impact Report 2023: Meet Hollywood’s Top Entertainment Dealmakers and Litigators , April 19, 2023

Hollywood’s Troubleshooters: Top 35 Lawyers for Death, Divorce and Other Disasters, November 28, 2022

“No professional athlete should leave home without Mitch Schuster’s number.  He is the best in the business.”  Doug Hendrickson –NFL Agent

“Mitch is not afraid to take on the tough cases and he is always there for his clients. Every athlete needs a guy like Mitch in their corner.”  Jason Pierre Paul-Tampa Bay Buccaneers

“Mitch has been there for me and my family during my playing career and he remains my attorney post-NFL.  He is definitely my guy.” Justin Tuck Super Bowl Champion NY Giants

“I use Mitch and his team for all of my legal needs.  There is no better attorney out there.”  Muhammad Wilkerson-Green Bay Packers

“Mitch Schuster is someone that all athletes can trust when they have legal questions.  His firm has been helping me for years and Mitch always gets it done for me.” Justin Pugh-Arizona Cardinals

Speaking Engagements

Mr. Schuster regularly leads crisis management presentations for professional sports teams, entertainers and high net-worth individuals and their families, to prepare for and respond to specific challenges and threats they face, including blackmail attempts, criminal investigations, family law related issues, asset recovery, nightclub assaults and photo, video and texting scandals.

Knowledge Library
  • Overview
  • Education & Admissions
  • Representative Matters
  • Honors & Involvement
  • Knowledge Library